Page images
PDF
EPUB

Wont'-ed a. accustomed.

7. Fer-tile, a. fruitful, producing a great quantity. 8. Bar-ren, a. not productive.

Pre"-ci-pice, s. a headlong steep, being land upright or hanging over, so that a person cannot descend without danger of falling. 10. Am'-ple, a. large, liberal, plentiful.

11. Ter-ra"-que-ous, a. (from the Latin terra, land, and aqua, water,) consisting of land and water.

Ex-hi"-la-ra-ting, part. inspiring with cheerfulness or joy.

12. Min"-is-ter, v to give, to supply.

15. Ce"-ment, s. (pro. sem-ment,) mortar, or any glutinous substance, used to stick two bodies together. When a verb, it is pro nounced se-ment'; with the accent on the latter syllable, which is almost an universal rule, for the accent to be on the first syllable, when a noun, and on the second or last when a verb. E rect'-ed, pret. raised up, built.

E"-di-fice, s. a building, or house, generally applied to signify some large or pompous building.

16. Di-vers, a. several, various.

17. Re-ces-ses, s. pl. places of secresy.

Com-bus-ti-ble, a. that which easily catches fire.

18. Ge"-ne-ra-ted, pret. produced.

19. Vi-cis-si-tude, s. regular change, wherein things return in succession.

Stag-na-ti-on, s. cessation or stoppage of motion.
Purg'-ed, pret. purified or cleansed, made wholesome.

I. How delightful is the prospect of the earth, diversified with hills, vallies; woods, rivers, lakes, and seas! 2. The verdure, and freshness of the spring, and rich fruits of autumn, and that plenty of variegated flowers which gaily blossom in summer, greatly heighten our pleasure. 3. How cheerful is the rising sun, which discloses their various beauties! How enlivening are his morning beams! How bright, and how, vigorous are his mid-day light and heat! 4. How gentle, and how composing are his evening rays! 5. How awful, and how solemn is the silence of the night, which draws a veil over the face of nature, and by throwing a shade upon the glories of this earth, prepare for

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

rest and sleep! 6. Yet never is the earth wholly deprived of light; for now the moon and stars assume their wonted empire,* and send forth their cheerful, though fainter rays, to prevent a total darkness.

7. Not only the fertile fields and meadows, which are watered with brooks and rills; not only the woods and richer plains, with the grassy pastures of the mountains and all the more finished scenes, give pleasure to the eye, and strike us with a sense of beauty; but even the rougher and less finished parts of nature. 8. With a pleasing astonishment we behold the barren heath, the wildness of the desert, the unshapen rocks, and impending precipices. 9. The rigours of winter have their peculiar graces, and furnish us with prospects which become agreeable in their season.

10. Nature has made ample provision, not for our pleasure only, but even for the conveniences and necessities of mankind in general, and also for every animal which is an inhabitant of the earth.

11. The surface of the terraqueous globe consists of many different sorts of soils and moulds. Some of a very prolific nature, producing seeds and roots innumerable, which either serve to furnish tasteful food to man and other animals, or to prepare delicious and refreshing liquors for quenching their thirst, and for exhilarating their spirits; or are of great use in the composition of powerful medicines. 12. Other kinds of earth are unfit for vegetation;

*

Empire is here used figuratively, denoting an extent or compass of space, within the influence, &c. of the moon and stars.

+Favours or pleasures.

yet none of them are really barren and unprofitable, but add fertility to other moulds, and are useful in the numerous arts which minister to the necessities and conveniencies of life.

13. Besides earthy substances, nature has provided plenty of bodies, which have a more firm consistence. 14. It furnishes stones for houses and other structures. 15. These stones are harder or softer to answer different ends. Being compacted together by a cement, they are erected into edifices, which endure for ages, and withstand the force of the fiercest storms.

16. There are other stones, some brighter, some paler, of one or divers colours, which, by their peculiar lustre, serve for elegance and ornament.

17. Within the dark and cold recesses of the earth, yet not far below its surface, that mankind may dig for them more easily, nature hath provided large quantities of combustible substances for supplying us with light and heat. 18. Various metals are also generated, which, being pure and unmixed, or mixed and compounded by human art, are formed into innumerable instruments and utensils, which are both curious and useful.

19. By the constant vicissitude of the tides, when the waters rise or fall, according to the motion of the mcon, all stagnation of the ocean is prevented, and the foulness and corruption of the waters are purged.

20. To preserve the element of air pure and healthful, gentle gales and breezes, nay, the fiercest winds, become the obedient ministers of the Almighty..

CHAP. III.

A View of the Beauty of Nature,

CONTINUED.

5. Pro-ces-ses, s. pl. methodical and gradual series.

6. Di-vi'ne, a. god-like, seemingly beyond the nature of mankind. 8. Un-a"-ni-mat-ed, part. not possessing the properties of an animal. 11. En-du'-ed, pret. invested, conferred on.

Ex-u'-her-ant, a. plentiful, abounding in the utmost degree:

12. Tex'-ture, s. form, disposition or combination of parts.

14. Grace, s. beauty, either natural or heightened by art, elegant behaviour, or the air and appearance by which any thing is done.

15. In'-stinct, s. that power which acts on, and impels to, any particular manner of conduct.

17. Pro"-pa-ga-ting, part. increasing, generating; (spreading, carrying from place to place.)

Ca-pa"-ci-ty, s, (applied to the mind) understanding.

1. How wonderful is the growth of the various kinds of grain, roots, herbs, flowers, shrubs, and trees, belonging to the vegetable kingdom! 2. How beautiful are their various forms and colours! 3. How refreshing and enlivening are their perfumes ! 4. How powerful are their influences and virtues ! 5. How regular are the processes, from the smallest seed or plant, to the most sweetly perfumed, or the most finely variegated flower; or to the most fruitful or finest tree!

6. But whatever wonders may be observed in the formation and growth of the vegetable kind, the structure of animals is still more wonderful and divine. 7. Endued with various degrees of perception, by which they are sensible of their existence, their life is infinitely superior to that of vegetables.

8. Unanimated matter exists not for itself. 9. To those alone who are capable of perceiving it, its existence is of importance. 10. But animals live, feel, and enjoy. 11. By the production of insensible matter, the Creator displays his grandeur and wisdom: but it is by means of living substances alone, which are endued with sense and perception, that the exuberant goodness of the Great Father of the universe can be manifested.

12. How just are the proportions of animated bodies! How beautiful are their forms! How curious is the texture of those substances of which they are compounded! 13. How proper are the structure and situation of their parts! 14. What high regard is shewn to ornament and grace! What abundant provision is made for conveniency and use!

13. What plentiful sources of pleasure are the senses of animals! With what excellent instincts are they endued by the wise and bountiful Creator! 16. Incapable of speech, untaught by any but Nature herself, they find out the use of their faculties, and attain the full perfection of their kind. 17. In searching out their food, in propagating and providing for their young, in choosing, or in preparing their habitations; they act with a sagacious foresight, and discover a wonderful capacity.

18. How far inferior, notwithstanding, are all the other animals to man, and how divine is that reason with which he is endued! 19. How many and how different objects does the mind of man comprehend at once, or in the quickest succession! 20. Starting from the narrow bounds of the body,

« EelmineJätka »